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Immigration Law Blog

Expert insights, legal updates, and practical guidance on Portuguese immigration law from licensed attorneys

Marcus Zottis Rocha

Criminal Record Authorization AIMA 2025

The criminal record check authorization is a mandatory document for residence permit renewal processes with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum). This article provides an official adapted template and a complete guide on how to correctly fill out this declaration.

The document is an express authorization by which the applicant allows AIMA to directly consult their Portuguese criminal record in official systems, complying with article 42-D of Regulatory Decree No. 84/2007. This declaration replaces the need to present a physical criminal record certificate, respecting the personal data protection regime.

The article explains in detail:
– What is the request for criminal record check
– Legal basis (article 42-D of Regulatory Decree No. 84/2007)
– Adapted declaration template ready to use
– How to fill in all required fields
– Who must sign the declaration
– Whether notarization is necessary
– Difference between Portuguese criminal record and home country certificate

The template presented includes all necessary fields: full name, parents’ names, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and signature. The declaration does not require notarial recognition for processes with AIMA, with a signature matching the identification document being sufficient.

This guide is essential for those renewing their residence permit in Portugal or applying for a visa, providing clear information and a practical template that can be adapted for different situations.

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Marcus Zottis Rocha

Marriage of foreigners in Portugal

Discover everything about marriage of foreigners in Portugal in 2025. This complete guide covers the two main options: marriage at the country of origin consulate or at Portuguese registry office. We explain all required documentation, including updated certificates, apostilling and certified translations. The step-by-step process includes choosing marriage type, applicable law, property regime, documentation, preliminary process and ceremony. We address special situations like AIMA consultation, attorney representation and waiting times. We detail available property regimes in Portugal and marriage consequences, including the path to Portuguese nationality after 3 years and family reunification. We present complete cost breakdown.

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Marcus Zottis Rocha

From “welcome” to “come back later”: is Portugal about to wind back the nationality clock?

Over the past few weeks, many clients have approached me, worried about the upcoming changes to Portugal’s Nationality Law. Some are only months away from meeting the residency requirement but are still gathering the last documents; others are rushing to apply for a residence visa, hoping to qualify under the current rules. While there are no definitive answers yet, I have put together my take on the proposed amendments, comparing Portugal’s framework with the nationality laws of other European countries. You can read the full article — available in both Portuguese and English — on our law firm’s blog.

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